P. is for pppeeaannut, peanut butter & brownines...

"Exercise is a dirty word...Every time I hear it, I wash my mouth out with chocolate." -Unknown

Well it is the middle of the week again, and we were craving something sweet with protein.  So naturally Jules whipped up some Double Peanut Butter Cheesecake Swirled Brownies.  Peanut butter has protein, cream cheese is a dairy, and some chocolates have fiber...so THERE!  We will, however, admit with pride that after one of these bad boys you might be forced to undo a button or two.  But honestly, who wants to spend their evenings in fitted pants...not us.  So bring on the sweats, sweets and milk to wash it all down.

Brownie Ingredients
3/4 c butter, very soft (not melted)
1 c sugar
1 T vanilla
2 large eggs
1 oz unsweetened baking chocolate (melted)
1 oz  semisweet baking chocolate (melted)
1/2 c cocoa powder
1/2 c all purpose flour
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
*Short on time: scratch the homemade brownies & mix up your favorite box brownie.

PB Swirl Ingredients
4 oz cream cheese, softened
1/2 c creamy peanut butter
1/3 c sugar
1 large egg
1 tsp. vanilla
5-6 panut butter cups (regular size), cut into 6-8 pieces each

Directions
|1.| Preheat ovent to 350. Line 8x8 pan with foil and spray with PAM {such a good friend by the way..PAM}.  Melt chocolate in microwave-safe bowl for 30 sec. intervals, stirring after each interval until smooth.  Cool to room temperature.
|2.| In a large mixing bowl, beat butter and sugar.  Beat in eggs one at a time.  Add vanilla and melted chocolate.  Mix to combine.
|3.| Combine dry ingredients in a medium bowl and whisk together.  Gradually stir dry ingredients into butter mixture.  Don't overmix!
|4.| In a separate mixing bolwl, beat together cream cheese, panute butter, sugar, and vanilla until smooth.  Add egg and beat until just combined.
|5.| Spread 2/3 of brownie batter into prepared pan.  Evenly drop 1/2 of cheesecake batter in dollups over brownie batter.  Run a knife through both mixtrues to lightly swirl.
|6.| Dollup remaining brownie batter and cheesecake batter over swirled mixture.  Run knife through the brownie and cheesecake dollups (not through first layer) to swirl.
|7.| Bake 40-45 minutes or until center is set (toothpick inserted has a few crumbs). 
|8.| After approximately 35-40 minutes of baking (when there is 5-7 minutes of time left) gently place peanut butter cup pieces on top of brownies.
|9.| Cool completely on a wire rack.  Cut and serve.

Bon appetit....vT*